The Slide 1 Fire in Mendocino National Forest is now 20 percent contained, as of 10am today. The Forest Service issued a release on the wildfire attack on over 650 acres. Thankfully there was no growth overnight. Crews are working on the south and east edges using trails as natural barriers. A closure for the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness in the Grindstone Ranger District is expected to close later today. Firefighters are also working on the Rock Fire that is about 2 and a half acres. Gusty winds are possible tonight but temps are trending down as Hurricane Hilary moves up from the west Mexico location, and may bring rain.
Local residents with experiences of homelessness, community service providers, members of the public, community leaders and more are invited to join with the Mendocino County Continuum of Care Annual Membership Invitation. The event was rescheduled to this coming Monday, August 21st at their location on State Street in Ukiah. The group is works to bring federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding to assist people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. The group focuses on developing solutions to homelessness that also positively impacts the larger community. Community members and residents are welcome to attend the public meetings.
North Bay areas have been listed among the 40 best small towns in California in a recent article in Country Living. Sonoma, Healdsburg, Guerneville and all made the town of Mendocino also made the magazine’s list. Healdsburg was listed as 13th and recognized for its Michelin-starred restaurants and art galleries among wine tasting and more. The Press Democrat reports Mendocino came in at number 18 with breathtaking views around every turn, according to the article.
Residents of Ukiah noticed FBI agents with CHP raiding West Coast Ag Products yesterday morning in Carousel Industry Park. Multiple sources report agents also searched a home on Kennwood Drive. Witnesses say the raids happened Thursday morning around 6am. According to court records, West Coast Ag Products’ CEO is involved in a lawsuit surrounding claims of unfair business practices. The company is a pesticide and herbicide manufacturer.
A Lakeport man is facing 45 years to life in state prison for the sexual assault of two women last year. Sean Daughtery was sentenced this week after a jury convicted him of three counts of sexual assault and more. The trial began in May after an initial trial last year ended in a hung jury. According to Lake County News, the victims ranged from a 16 year old run-away, to several homeless women and more. Daughtery was aggressive before the court during sentencing and had to be removed by three bailiffs. He was sentenced to 45 years to life for the violence against the victims with a high degree of cruelty and callousness to women who were especially vulnerable.
The Lake County Continuum of Care is announcing over $100,000 in funding is available. In combined federal funding for providers for homeless services, the department says there are two tiers categorized for applicants for grant money. The deadline to apply for these grants is August 28th. Check with the Lake County Continuum of Care for more information.
CHP will have a drivers license safety and DUI checkpoint in the unincorporated area of Lake County today. Officers will be checking for drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs as well as drivers who are unlicensed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and CHP want to send a message that driving under the influence has consequences. They will be targeting roads where there is a high frequency of intoxicated and illegal drivers. There are other DUI checkpoints planned throughout NorCal today, including in Sonoma County. CHP in Ukiah will have a checkpoint looking for intoxicated drivers tomorrow evening.
Hurricane Hilary is headed towards the west coast of Mexico and into California, prompting flooding concerns for the southern part of the state. Farther north, winegrowers in the North Bay area are concerned about the potential for heavy rains and high winds forecast to head north this weekend into next week. The Press Democrat reports it’s a critical time for winegrowers with an already delayed season and more. Vineyards are worried about powdery mildew and other diseases that wet weather could make worse. It’s too early to pinpoint Hurricane Hilary’s path, but growers have been tracking the multiple scenarios forecast by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Lawmakers are working to make housing and infrastructure equitable with school proposals to practically finance communities in need with special tax measures. Lake County News reports Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry held a press conference yesterday to support the Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1. She says the bill targets urgent needs of local communities to increase affordable housing and supportive housing as well as the supportive infrastructure. ACA 1 would reduce the vote threshold for bond approval and change special tax measures from a two thirds vote to a 55 percent supermajority. The California Professional Firefighters and the State Building and Construction Trades Council are co-sponsoring the bill. If passed the bill would go to the November 2024 ballot.
The Ukiah Police Department is looking for officers to fill vacant positions. Tom Corning was promoted from lieutenant to the role of captain, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. Corning filled a vacancy created when another officer was promoted. The department is recruiting for a police lieutenant, an officer, a dispatcher, a firefighter paramedic and more.
Fire crews are working to extinguish five remaining fires in the Covelo region; out of 15 that were lightning sparked this week, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. In an update yesterday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported the remaining fires are in remote areas and range in size from a potion of an acre to 40 acres. Cal Fire says cooler temperatures are expected to help fire crews but the remote and rugged terrain continues to be a challenge. The Slide 1 Fire inched up containment to 5 percent as of last night, at a size of over 650 acres. The Mendocino National Forest is planning a closure order today within the Grindstone Ranger District. Firefighters are also attacking the Rock Fire in the Sanhedrin Wilderness on the Upper Lake District. While it is at zero percent containment, the blaze is still under 2 acres.
The new carwash that was approved for Ukiah this spring has an appeal to deal with. After the Ukiah Planning Commission approved a permit to demolish the vacant car wash and build a new improved one on Talmage Road the Splash Express Carwash now faces new opposition. The appeal was slated to go before the Ukiah City Council at their meeting this week, but has been moved to the September meeting. Members of the public are concerned about the new car wash near the airport. The current site has been a place for the homeless to congregate and find shelter. Ukiah Police regularly visit the old Redwood Plaza Car Wash that has been vacant since 2017, according to the Ukiah Daily Journal. The Planning Commission will hear the appeal next month.
Save the Redwoods League is announcing the Graton Rancheria is offering half a million dollars in a matching gift to help protect the Russian River Redwoods. In a release in MendoFever, the organization is pledging the funds through the end of September. Earlier this month, the League acquired a nearly 400 acre parcel of redwood forest in Sonoma County. They now have until the end of next month to get $6.5 million needed to transfer it to the county for further sustainability. The Tribal Chairman says they are excited to help return the important redwood and Douglas fir forst habitat to the county for long-term stewardship. The area includes traditional lands and Southern Pomo territory. The Russian River Redwoods includes habitats for salmon, trout and home to a plethora of other animals and plants. The plan is for Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and the Open Space District to support the transfer and future conservation.
The FBI led a series of raids around California in an 18-month investigation in an alleged criminal network of police officers. The Mercury News reports that federal authorities charged 10 current and former officers with a range of offenses. The most serious charge is civil rights violations, with the officers reported actions to “injure, oppress, threaten and intimidate citizens of Antioch. Four types of cases were brought against the officers, which alleged brutal tactics, steroid sales, a reported wiretap tipoff and accusations of a plot to acquire fake degrees.
